Algerian international Amine Gouiri absence hurts Marseille

Amine Gouiri’s continued spell on the sidelines is increasingly felt at Marseille, where recent results have highlighted just how crucial the forward has become to Roberto De Zerbi’s plans.

The Algerian international was forced off after injuring his shoulder late in the national team’s narrow win over Uganda at the Hocine Aït-Ahmed Stadium in Tizi-Ouzou.

His absence instantly raised concerns in Marseille, a team that had been enjoying an impressive rhythm in Ligue 1 and thriving under De Zerbi’s attacking approach.

That momentum has since stalled, and the attention has shifted back to what the side is missing without him.

Back-to-back defeats — first away to Lisbon in the Champions League and then at Lens in domestic competition — have amplified the questions surrounding Marseille’s attacking output.

Despite Gouiri still recovering from surgery, his name remains at the centre of discussions around the club’s recent struggles.

No players are returning for this match. It’s still too early for Medina, Kondogbia, Traoré, and Gouiri, De Zerbi explained in a press conference ahead of Marseille’s home fixture against Angers at the Stade Vélodrome, which will feature Algerian duo Haris Belkebla and Himad Abdelli for the visitors.

The Italian manager did not hide his frustration when addressing the long injury list and the difficulties it creates.

“It’s not easy, because we try to be attentive to playing time to avoid muscle injuries. Traore was injured in training without having played, Kondogbia the same. Medina and Gouiri are traumas. Injuries are part of football, we try to limit them, but it’s never easy,” he said, emphasising how keen he is to have his leading forward from last season’s run available again.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has stepped into a more prominent role during Gouiri’s absence, also acknowledged how much the team has been forced to adapt.

“We’re being even more careful. The absences of Gouiri and Traoré are significant, so we have to be careful to manage our efforts well. Robinio (Vaz), for example, has to learn to pace himself in training. But personally, I feel good physically and ready to play matches. We’re staying focused despite the setbacks,” the Gabonese striker noted, aware that his increased playing time comes under difficult circumstances.

Gouiri, one of the most prolific forwards in French youth football with 48 goals in 74 appearances at junior level, remains in rehabilitation after his collarbone surgery.

His unavailability for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has already been confirmed, a development that, while disappointing for Algeria, is seen at club level as giving Marseille a chance to accelerate his return.

The club are counting on a recovery that arrives sooner rather than later, particularly as Aubameyang is expected to be away at the AFCON in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

With Marseille battling on multiple fronts, Gouiri’s return could prove decisive in restoring the attacking spark that has suddenly gone missing on the Mediterranean coast.